Cooling solutions Hello folks, I have a 2.8 p4 northwood clocked up to 3.2. If I use a near-stock heatsink e.g.cast aluminum, somewhat small, would you expect my processor to live a long, full life. Or will it burn up in three weeks? I don't want to go overboard on a heatsink and I don't want my proc. to die. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

A good motherboard with an AGP 8X slot, if you can find one. The board should be ATX rather than micro atx, the full size boards are usually better running. It should take 4gb of ddr, hopefully pc3200.
Add a Northwood CPU, a fast one. A good socket 478 cooler.
DDR3200, this is fairly cheap on Ebay new. A good AGP card, maybe a geforce 3 or 4. A large IDE hard disk. ribbon cables. Maybe a floppy drive. DVD RW DRIVE. P4 PSU....350 WATSS AT LEAST.


LATER P4 478 CHIPS HAD 1MB CACHE RATHER THAN THE NORTHWOOD'S 512K CACHE BUT THEY RAN HOT AND NEEDED VERY GOOD COOLING GENERALLY, THEY ARE BEST AVOIDED IN MY OPINION.

Beep noise you hear is a BIOS Beep Code

The computer's way of letting you know something is wrong, and an area to look into for it.

Loud and continuous beep, usually indicates a problem with the Processor (CPU).
To be more specific the Processor is overheating.

More specific than that, it is caused by the laptop is dirty inside.

Air is used to cool the hardware components inside the laptop, with the cooling system.
The two hardware components that give off the most heat, is the CPU (Processor), and graphics chipset. (GPU)

The cooling system consists of;
1) Fan Assembly
2) Cooling Tube
3) Heatsink

http://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=11931

Click on the image to enlarge.
The aluminum die-cast metal plate you see to the far right, sits on the Processor. (CPU)
The small metal plate is connected to a Cooling Tube.

The small aluminum metal plate to it's left, sits on the graphics chipset. (GPU)
As you can see it also is connected to a Cooling Tube.

Both Cooling Tubes end in a black rectangular finned, Heatsink.
What is not seen of the cooling system, is the Fan Assembly,

http://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=10804

The flat part of the D-shaped shroud, of the Fan Assembly; rests up against the finned rectangular Heatsink.


A) The Cooling Tubes are a slightly flattened copper tube, sealed on both ends, and filled with Nitrogen.

B) The Cooling Tubes end in a finned Heatsink. A thin small strip of metal, that has tall thin fins protruding from it.

C) The Fan Assembly consists of a small multi-bladed fan, encased in a D-shaped shroud.
The fan draws air up from the Center, (Bottom of laptop), and exhausts the air through the fins of the Heatsink. (Then out the side of the laptop)

Heat from the Processor, and graphics chipset, is absorbed by their small respective metal plates, that sit on them.
The Cooling Tubes then absorb the heat from the small metal plates.
The Cooling Tubes transfer the heat up to the finned Heatsink.

The Heatsink absorbs the heat, then radiates the heat away with it's tall, thin fins.
Air flow from the Fan Assembly, helps carry heat away from the fins of the Heatsink.

When the fan blades, center hub, and surrounding cage, (Shroud), get dirty; the cooling capacity drops tremendously.
Just a light coat is all it takes.

When the fins of the Heatsink are clogged with 'Gunk', the cooling capacity drops tremendously.
Gunk = Dirt, dust, lint, hair, food crumbs,.......you name it.

Also in-between the small metal plate on the Cooling Tube, and the Processor; is Thermal Paste.

The top of the Processor, and the bottom of that small metal plate on the Cooling Tube; are not perfectly smooth.
A magnified view would detail, 'Ridges, Valleys, and Pitholes'.
When the two parts are mated together, there are air pockets formed.

Thermal Paste fills these imperfections, and is an Excellent conductor of heat.

In-between the graphics chipset (GPU), and it's respective small metal plate, a small piece of Thermal Pad is used.
A Thermal Pad is a material that is impregnated with Thermal Paste.

After time (Age), and also due to overheating; the Thermal Paste can dry up.
Looses it's thermal conductivity properties.
Same goes for a Thermal Pad, as it's Thermal Paste dries up.

After cleaning it is suggested to replace the Thermal Paste PROPERLY, and replace the Thermal Pad.

A Thermal Pad CANNOT be reused.
Do NOT care if it looks like new.
Once the impression is made into it, from the small metal plate, it's DONE. Small metal plate will not contact, the Thermal Pad's surface correctly again. REPLACE.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3071621&CatId=503

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/274

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835230030

Suggest use a can of compressed air for computers, Tweezers, and a small soft brush. (Makeup brush?)
This is an example of what a dirty laptop looks like inside.
Using the Dell XPS M1710 for an example,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkAeE5I5E_A

This is Dell Support > XPS 15 (L502X) Notebook PC > Main Support page,

http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/19/Product/xps-l502x

Click on the Manuals & Documentation tab.
(Product Support / System Configuration / Drivers & Downloads / Parts & Upgrades / Manuals & Documentation / etc )

Click on the blue - Service Manual (1451KB)

The Zoom In icon ( + ) at the top, increases the view size; when you click on it..
The Zoom Out icon ( - ) decreases the view size.

Click on - Heatsink - in the right column.

HMMM, never mind!
Seems this particular PDF file is messed up. Or it's on my end. You may have better luck.
Instead scroll the page down until you come to - System Board,
OR;

The Adobe Reader page number box is at the Top, to the right of the Down Arrow.
1) Put your mouse cursor in the page number box, left-click once.
(Everything in page number box is now highlighted in blue)
Left-click.
Now Backspace any numbers out.

2) Type the page number you want.
3) Press the Enter key.

Go to Page 45

Additionally,

http://www.insidemylaptop.com/how-to-disassemble-dell-xps-15-l502x-laptop/

When you get to Step 27, you can access the cooling system, to remove it. (Replace Thermal Paste/Thermal Pad)

Regards,
joecoolvette

wafy_m, the problem can be attributed to the graphics chipset, is lifting off of the motherboard.
The mounting has loosened.

This is because the cooling system for the graphics chipset, is inadequate.

Chip and Chipset are slang terms for I.C.
Integrated Circuit,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuit

The graphics chipset is the GPU,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPU

The mounting of the GPU to the motherboard, is done with a BGA surface mount,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_grid_array

To explain a BGA surface mount, compare to an older Intel Pentium 4 processor, that uses a Socket 478 processor socket,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_478

The Processor has contact pins on the bottom. 478 of 'em.
The Socket 478 processor socket has matching socket holes.

With a BGA surface mount there are no contact pins, nor socket holes.

In place of the contact pins there are Solder Balls.
In place of the socket holes there are Copper Pads.
(Which have a gold plating on them)

The graphics chipset is set into place over the motherboard, with it's Solder Balls lining up on the motherboard's matching Copper Pads.

Heat is then applied at a specific temperature, and length of time.
The Solder Balls melt, which solders the graphics chipset to the Copper Pads.
(Which in turn solders the graphics chipset to the motherboard)

With the inadequate cooling for the graphics chipset, after time the solder connections will begin to partially melt.

This leads to a poor contact of the graphics chipset to the motherboard, and the problem you are having.

As previously stated the cooling system for the graphics chipset, is inadequate.

Cooling System:
The cooling system consists of a Cooling Tube, Heatsink, and Fan Assembly.

The Cooling Tube is a slightly flattened copper tube, filled with Nitrogen, and sealed on both ends.

Towards one end of the tube is an aluminum plate. This plate sits on top of the Processor. Has four screws through it. Removing these screws removes the cooling system assembly.

Coming up the tube a little bit, is another aluminum plate. This one is smaller, and sits on top of the graphics chipset.

Connected at the opposite end is the Heatsink.
The Heatsink is a small thin piece of metal, with Tall, Thin, fins protruding from it.

Next to the Heatsink is the Fan Assembly.
The Fan Assembly, is a Fan inside of a cage, or shroud.

Draws air up from the bottom of the laptop, and pushes it through the Heatsink's fins, and out the side of the laptop.

Heat from the graphics chipset, and the Processor, are absorbed by their metal plates.
The Cooling Tube absorbs heat from the two aluminum metal plates.

The Cooling Tube transfers the heat along up to the Heatsink.
The Heatsink absorbs the heat, then radiates it away with the Tall, Thin fins.

Airflow from the Fan Assembly, helps to carry heat away from the fins of the Heatsink.

The surface area of the metal plate on top of the graphics chipset, is too small. It is inadequate in surface area size.

The one on the Processor is barely adequate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnkQNmKauEc&feature=relmfu

The above is posted for reference. Pause the video at 7:43 to see the cooling system I described above.

1) Black Fan Assembly to the upper left.

2) To the immediate left side of the Fan Assembly is the Heatsink.
Black in color, slightly rounded outside edge, goes along the full length of the left side of the Fan Assembly. Hard to discern the fins.

3) The aluminum X shaped piece with 4 black screws in it, on the copper Cooling Tube, is the metal plate for the Processor.

4) Coming up the copper Cooling Tube towards the Fan Assembly, is the second aluminum metal plate. It is shaped sort of like an S, with flat ends. This plate sits on top of the graphics chipset.

Solution?
Properly remelt the solder connections of the graphics chipset, to the copper pads.
Add surface area to the Processor's metal plate, and the graphics chipset's metal plate.

PROPER method is to use a BGA Rework Machine. Performed by a shop who has one.

ANY other method may is less than. The procedure may last a week, a month, or maybe longer.

There was a recall on this series of Notebook PC.
It is over,

http://www.nvidiasettlement.com/index.html

[ No, replacing the motherboard does NOT cure the problem ]

For additional questions please post in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

I have a Compaq that came with this board and a celeron 1.8 or 2.0 I believe. The fastest P4 that will run is a Intel Northwood 2.8 Ghtz 400 FSB nothing ELSE! Northwood 2.8 is the fastest 400 FSB, the boards chipset won't run anything faster than 400 FSB. Mine is running, Win 7 the Northwood P4 2.8 with 2 gigs ram, 160 gig HD and a 256 video card for over 5 years (minus win 7, had XP before with no issues. Good for light gaming, web surfing and MS office! Add a Zotac 512 MB PCI or Sparkle Video card and you can handle most more medium gaiming out today!

Exact replacement
http://cgi.ebay.com/Pentium-4-2-53GHz-512KB-533MHz-SL6S2-478-pin-Northwood-/220676402673?pt=CPUs&hash=item336156adf1
Upgrade
http://cgi.ebay.com/Pentium-4-IV-P4-CPU-3-2Ghz-3-2-512k-800-Northwood-478-/370436974978?pt=CPUs&hash=item563fc3a982

repalce ram

That's not an honest question; are you somehow going to use both the new heatsink and the old one together, so they have to be compatible?  Since you're not, I suggest looking for heatsinks compatible with P4 on a shopping or trade site, which totally have you covered.  There's nothing to fix here.

That system is a little old though.  For your electricity dollar and your time, you will get more use out of a nice 6-core CPU, DDR3, etc.  Bon chance.

The MSI 865PE Neo2-PLS
Supports Intel® P4 Northwood/Prescott (Socket 478) processors.
FSB 400 (for Northwood only), 533, 800MHz.
Supports up to 3.2GHz or higher speed.
See page 1-2 in your manual. Also see page 2-3.
MSI supported CPU list; http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=prodcpusupport&maincat_no=1&prod_no=569#menu
Main link for 865PE Neo2 platform; http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=searchresult&keywords=865PE+Neo2

Cheers'
Mike

This is a standard micro atx board. The holes you are seeing will be on any 478 mobo, you just have to remove the black bracket, which is usually achieved by lifting the center pin in each of the corners.

Roberto,
Well I can say its a socket 478 P4 and you can probably only upgrade to about a 2.4Ghz P4 , probably not much of an upgrade, better to build or buy a new PC for around $500-$600
Eric

I’m happy to help further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/eric_ab7c09ec01841771